Iheaded left, looking at the forest: low, thin trees with smooth gray bark andgeometrical pale green foliage. I walked to the edge of the forest and stopped,looking at the rows of trees.
ThenI moved two steps back.
Fromthis angle, all the trees were in one line, one row. I could only see the firstone, and all the others lined up behind it. I moved forward a few steps andstopped again. A new column of trees.
Geometrical. Symmetrical. Patterned.
Ilooked at the ground. Every tree was surrounded by pavement from all sides, sothat no visitor had to step on grass to come close to a tree.
Iwalked along the paths, trying to stay oblivious to where I was going, but a beepingsound from my E-band alerted me to my imminent meeting with Jodar. I turnedaround and walked back to the entrance of the Nature Hall.
CouncilorRa Jodar Sennan walked slowly toward me, his heavy dark red coat rustling withevery step. More than one thousand years behind him, and Jodar looked youngerthan my father. He must have chosen a younger age when he started his firstrejuvenation.
Hestopped one and a half IPs from me.
“Youknow already?” Jodar said, looking at my skinsuit.
“CouncilorJodar,” I said, my tone calm and bland.
“TheHigh Zlathar Priest, Monsignor Torquemada Joseph Nadraque, asked for yourpresence.”
“Hewishes for a holo communication?”
“No.He wishes for a personal meeting,” he said and started walking.
Mystomach clenched, my legs frozen to the ground. I had never met a Zlatharbefore. My main interaction was through holo communications, and even though I talkedto them, I never knew what they looked like. Their faces were always hidden.
Iwas still glued to the ground for a moment or two. Then I took a silent breathand hurried to join Jodar.
“Directcontact with Zlathars is a privilege to have,” he continued slowly. “Althoughperhaps initially uncomfortable.”
Uncomfortable was an understatement. For the first time in my life,I was in real danger.
Itried to remain calm, not revealing any of my thoughts to Jodar. He could neverfind out just how uncomfortable Zlathars made me feel. Such a strong emotionwas not the Senthien way.
“Aninitial sense of discontent does not present a challenge for me,” I said in thesame monotonous voice.
“Sowhat does present a challenge, Dana?” He stopped to look at me.
“Throughtheir connection, they would be awareof all my thoughts.”
“Isthere something to hide?” He arched his eyebrows.
“Ofcourse not, Jodar.”
“Itis clear that for us”—he made a motion with his hands to encompass bothof us—“privacy is completely unnecessary. This is why the Zlatharsrequested a personal meeting with you, Dana. With your level of Visionaire talent,you will be of great help to them.”
“Iam positive that I will be of service to them.”
Wecontinued walking, and I moved my gaze from Jodar’s green eyes to the path infront of us. It needlessly curved back and forth across the boring plain in aregular wavy line.
Aftera few passes, Jodar stopped and turned halfway toward me. I faced him, leaving twoIPs between us.
“Therehave been incidents of… port failures in the past few months,” he said.
Port failures? “Does this mean the ports did not happen?”
“No.The ports happened, but the destination is unknown.”
Iquickly glanced at him, for a moment unable to hide my surprise, but then I movedmy gaze backward to the path ahead, feigning indifference.
Wecontinued walking. For several passes, we remained quiet. Then Jodar continued,“The Zlathar Council is worried. The Mind has never made a port mistake before.The series of recent port failures are clearly not mistakes. They suspect sabotage.”
“Bywho?” I said, my tone flat.
“Thisis currently unknown. They want to find out if it was done by Humans.”
Istopped to look at him. “Humans are kept under high surveillance on Zema4. Theycannot access any of the Uni computer systems.”
“Irealize it is highly unlikely,” he said, nodding, thencontinued walking. “Their low intelligence and the primitive level of theirsocial constellation makes it almost impossible for them to do so… but, Dana,do not forget that they are kept at Zema4 for a reason. Their species was andremains cruel and vicious.”
“Ofcourse, Jodar. The video of the Humans’ cruelty was repeatedly shown to us duringmy seven years of history recap classes. I clearly remember it.”
“Humansunfortunately did not reach the level of enlightenment we have,” he said andcontinued his slow walk along the path. “We are all fortunate that Zlatharsrecorded the terrible deeds Humans committed to Descendants. Only our enlightenednature prevents us from exterminating them for good.”
“Yes,Jodar, I do not forget.”
Aftera few moments, he continued, “Because the Humans’ wish to hurt Descendants has notfaltered, the Zlathars need to interrogate you, Dana, to see if the Mind errorsare linked to Humans in any way.”
“Idid not have any indicative Visions. I think this was clear from my reports.”
“Thisis clearly understood from the reports you sent to the Zlathar Council. Wemight not recognize any indications, Dana, but Senthiens do not have such ability.Zlathars, however, are much more proficient in these areas, and with anoverview of all your conscious levels when they… connect… to you… they mightsee something that gives them a clue. It is our duty to help them find theperpetrator causing this malfunction.”
Jodar’sslow steps kept moving the rough fabric of his coat around his feet, making ahard swishing sound that was slightly uncomfortable to my ears. “The port willbe ready in thirty passes,” he said.
Myheart was drumming in my ears, but my face remained calm and aloof.
“Youwill be accompanied by one more person,” he continued.
Inodded. “Thank you, Jodar. I will report to you upon my return.”
“Ithank you, Dana. May Torquemada Joseph Nadraque watch over you.”
Hegave a slight bow, and I returned the gesture.
Heturned away and continued his slow walk on the wavy path farther into thecenter of the Nature Hall.
Iwatched him leave, then turned the opposite way, and for a moment or two, Iwondered if it would be inappropriate to ignore the useless stone tiled pathand walk a straight line to the entrance of the Hall.
Idecided against it. It gave me more time to think.
TheZlathars’ request had to be linked to my last reported Vision. Would they beable to see more than what I saw in my Vision when they connect? I cringed atthe thought
